Ontario SPCA Falsely Stated '11 items Requiring Action' Found During Marineland Canada Inspection

NIAGARA FALLS, ON, Aug. 17, 2017 /CNW/ - Marineland Canada is once again on the receiving end of factually incorrect claims by the Ontario SPCA that were improperly reported to the media.

On August 17, 2017 Melissa Kosowan, a self-proclaimed 'PR (public relations) pro & writer by trade' with no actual involvement in delivering Ontario SPCA's animal welfare mandate, falsely stated to City News:

"Contrary to what was stated by Marineland, the Ontario SPCA zoo inspectors found 11 items requiring action during our recent unannounced zoo inspection. Recommendations were made to address deficiency/concerns and administrative requirements. Veterinarians were required and Marineland has until today to report that these concerns have been addressed."

This is categorically and verifiably untrue.

Marineland stated August 17, 2017, prior to Ms. Kosowan's false claims:

"The Ontario SPCA confirmed after a surprise inspection of Marineland Canada on August 16, 2017 that there were no signs of abuse, distress, mistreatment or neglect of any animals in Marineland's care including: black bears, elk, red deer, fallow deer or guinea hens."

Ms. Kosowan's claim that their inspection found anything contrary to what Marineland stated is a complete and utter falsehood.

Ms. Kosowan's statement also falsely claimed "inspectors found 11 items requiring action"

Yet a letter received by Marineland from Maryanne Pryer, a Zoo Inspector with the Ontario SPCA on August 17, 2017, following the inspection and prior to Ms. Kosowan's false claims being published, under the explicit heading 'Required Items' Pryer listed only three required items, all of which were routine requests for documentation and none of which relate in any way to any allegation or observation of abuse, distress, mistreatment or neglect of any animal in our care:

1. Provide inspectors with results of necropsies for "Gia" and "Sonja".
2. Water testing report for the date we attended for the Marine Mammals
3. Water testing results for the Bear enclosure.

Ms. Kosowan's statement included a third falsehood when she claimed that 'Marineland had until today to report these concerns had been addressed' as nowhere in Zoo Inspector Pryer's letter is that stated.

Marineland would like to note that Ms. Kosowan is the same public relations specialist at the Ontario SPCA who refused Marineland Canada access to the January 9 2017 press conference where the Ontario SPCA announced charges were being laid. Marineland Canada learned through reporter's questions more information about the Ontario SPCA's concerns than they had from the Ontario SPCA at that point.

All charges laid by the Ontario SPCA in November 2016 and January 2017 were withdrawn after an independent review of the merits of proceeding to trial by the Crown, confirming Marineland's innocence on all counts.

Statements by the Ontario SPCA like this unfairly cause damage to Marineland Canada's reputation with the public, and undermine their own credibility as a law enforcement organization/charity due to lack of fact basis.

No other zoo or aquaria in Ontario is subject to this type of coordinated public media campaign by the Ontario SPCA.

Marineland Canada strongly urges the Ontario SPCA to ensure their public relations specialists have their facts correct before making false and inflammatory statements about the park to members of the media and the public.

SOURCE Marineland